Mincy Looks to Take On Leadership Role
South Carolina men’s basketball has 12 newcomers on its 15-man roster, so having a dependable “glue guy” who can lead from the point guard position will likely be critical in running Coach Lamont Paris’ offense and building team chemistry. Senior Kory Mincy may be that guy.
“I’m just trying to bring everybody in and be a leader,” said Mincy. “I know we have a lot of guys from all over the place, so I’m trying to be that head of the snake. We’re spending bonding time with each other and getting in the gym. I’m doing whatever I can to help everybody bond and get closer.
“The relationship I was able to build with him (Paris), and the system and what they saw just fit for me. The style that he has, the kind of coach he is, and what he allows his point guards to do, that’s a match for me.”
Originally from East Point, Georgia, Mincy transferred from George Mason where he earned second team All-Atlantic 10 Conference honors last year after averaging 14.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game while leading the Patriots to a 23-10 record. He also led George Mason in three-pointers made (69) and three-point percentage (39%). He started his career at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, where he played two seasons and averaged 15.0 points and 4.4 assists per game as a sophomore, earning honorable mention All-Big South accolades. A veteran point guard who can get a lot of people involved and is also a threat to score is certainly a welcome addition.
“I’m a point guard who has to have a little bit of freedom,” Mincy said. “LP (Paris) gives me the utmost freedom. He allows me to be me. He’s the perfect coach for a point guard to play with. He allows me to be a vocal leader. That’s my role now.
“I’m a lead by example type of guy. That means how I carry myself on and off the court. You’re going to see me in class getting my work in on time. You’re going to see me in the gym early and being that guy that other guys can say, hey, I want to follow his path.”
“We have a lot of guys who are hungry. We have a lot of guys who feel like they have to prove themselves.”
It’s not just talk. In three years of college, Mincy already earned his undergraduate degree as an INTS major, a multidisciplinary degree program offered through the School of Integrative Studies at Geoge Mason. When he’s done playing basketball, he wants to work with children.
“With the degree that I already have, I’m in the early childhood field,” Mincy said. “I want to go into recreational facilities and give back to kids in my neighborhood and across the world and just help the youth. I want to get to kids at an early age and try to make a difference for them.
“It’s amazing to have my degree. As a kid growing up around Atlanta, I never thought I would have gotten a degree. Staying in college and being able to get my degree early has been a blessing. I didn’t know how big of an accomplishment it was until I ended up getting it and what I could do with it.”
He previously played against the Gamecocks while at Presbyterian as a sophomore, and although South Carolina won the game, Mincy scored a team-high 27 points and had four assists. Remembering that game not only gave Mincy confidence that he could play at this level but also stuck in Paris’ mind when he was available in the transfer portal this year.
“I have that game on my phone, and I look at the highlights every day,” Mincy said with a smile. “Games like that when you’re at a smaller school like Presbyterian College, you highlight those games on your calendar. It always gave me confidence that I could play with those guys.”
“When you play against him, you have a different view,” Paris said. “It’s up close and personal. You see things that you don’t see when you’re watching tape. You see how competitive the guy is. This guy is a competitive, confident person. I also knew what his skillset was. This is a guy who has grown throughout his career. His role has continued to expand. He was an all-league guy last year in the Atlantic 10, which was the sixth best league out of 32 conferences in the entire country. He had a busted thumb at the end of the year, but he played through it for the benefit of his team. He’s a winner. He cares about his team, and he’s a good player. Above that, he’s a tremendous competitor. I’m really excited about him.”
While it may take some time to develop chemistry, the senior point guard likes what he’s seen so far.
“Everybody has been amazing,” Mincy said. “We have a lot of guys who are hungry. We have a lot of guys who feel like they have to prove themselves. We’re coming in here with a chip on our shoulder.”
